Stretcher



N. AND F. WHITESEL.

STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. I918.

Patented May 20, 1919.

w 3 MW Z f f 2 M m 7 was ca. PNO snllvcmlv. n c

NEWTON WHITESEL AND rnnnnmcxwnrrnsnn, or OMAHA, NEBRASKA} Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 1919;

Application filed June 17, 1918. Serial No. 240,340.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NEWTON NVHrrnsnL and FREDERICK rrrrnsnn, citizensof the United States, residing at Omaha,' in the county of Douglas andState of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

Thisinvention relates to certain improvements in stretchers and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use in connection with woven fencefabric and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel andimproved device of this general character including means whereby thestretching or pulling mechanism may be effectively supported atdifferent heights n1 accordance with the requirements of practice.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improveddevice of this general character which is provided with means forengaging a fence post or other stationary abutment when in operationwhereby the pulling or stretching action is materially facilitated. I

Another object of the invention is to pro.- vide a novel and improveddevice of this general character including a winding drum operatedthrough the medium of a worm and wherein a flexible member coacts withthe drum and which flexible member has operatively connected therewith aclamping member for engagement with a wire fabric or other element to bestretched.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved stretcher which may be readily and conveniently operated by oneperson and which dGVlCB'Il'lLlntains the fabric in stretched conditionso thatthe person ho operates the stretcher may also anchor the fabricto a fence post or the like. a e V The invention consists in the detailsof construction and in the combination and arragement of the severalparts of our improved stretcher whereby certain important advantages areattained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwisemore convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter morefully set forth- The novel features of our invention will hereinafter bedefinitely claimed.

transverse section and partly in p In order that our invention may bethe better understood, we will now proceed to de- 7 scribe the same withreference to the accom-. panying drawlngs, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective illustrating a stretcher constructedin accordance with an embodiment of our invention, and in appliedposition;

Fig.2 is a fragmentary view. partly in horizontal section and partly intop plan illustrating the winding drum and operating means therefor asherein included; and.

-Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in lan of the clamping member asherein includedc As disclosed in the accompanying iii-awings ourimproved device comprises two elongated members 1 in vertical spacedrela tion when the device is in operative position and the forwardportions. of said members j 1 are in convergence and have securedbetween their forward extremities a block 2. The block 2 is providedwith the transversely disposed head 3 preferably crescent shape so thatsaid head may have effective i contact with a fence-post or'the like,

The members lat' predetermined points longitudinally thereof areconnected'by the bolts 1 for maintaining the same in predeterminedrelation. Overlying the inner faces I of the members 1 adjacent therearends thereof are the plates 5 maintained in applied position throughthe medium of certain of the bolts l and said plates are of suchconfiguration as to havetheir forward end portions extending beyond theopposite sides of the membersl. ,The extended portions of the plates 5are connected by the bolts 6 arranged in pairs and positioned betweenthe bolts of each pair isa bearing block: c The blocks 7 rotatablysupport the. shaft 8 provided with the worm 9 meshing with a worm gearlO carried by an end portion of the drum 11. The drum 11 is rotatedaround theremo-vable pin 12 supported by the members 1 at a, pointrearwardly of the bolts 6. An end portion of the'shaft 8 is providedwith a head 14 through which is slidably disposed the operatinglever 15.The lever 15 is adapted to be manually operated to impart the desiredrotation to the drum 11. It will be obvious that by use of the worm 9and the coacting worm gear 10 the drum 11 will be locked againstrotation whenlthe shaft 8 is not being rotated.

One of the members 1 rearwardly of the drum 11 is provided with anopening 16 in alinement with an end portion of the long1- tudinallydisposed slot 17 produced in the second member 1. Disposed through theslot 17 and the opening 16 is a bar 18. The lower end of adapted topenetrate the ground. The bar 18 immediately adjacent the inner endportion of the point 19 is provided with a supporting plate 20 which isadapted to rest upon the surface so that the bar 18 will. be maintainedin a vertical position when the device is in applied position. The bar18 is also provided with a series of longitudinally spaced transverseopenings 21 through which a removable pin 22 is adapted to be disposedfor coaction with one of the members 1 so that the drum 11 may bemalntained at different elevations in accordance with the occasions ofpractice.

23 denotes a brace rod having its upper end portion provided with a hookmember 24 freely disposed through an opening 25 producgdain the rearportion of the upper men ear 1 and the lower or opposite end por- .tiuiiof the rod 23 is provided with the laterally directed eye member 26through which a stake 27 or the like is adapted to be directed. Inpractice the rod 23 extends laterally with reference to the members 1and. in a direction away from the lever 15 so that the device, when inapplied. position, will be effectively braced against lateral strain asimposed thereupon during a working operation. The connection of the rod23 with the member 1 as afforded by the hook member 24 permits the rod23 to be readily swung relative to the memberl with which it is engagedso that said rod 23 may be employed effectively irrespectively of thevarious adjustments of the members 1 longitudinally of the bar 18.

Anchored to one of the bolts 4 in advance of the drum 11 is an endportion of a flexible member M which is disposed around a pulley 28carried by a clamping member C. The member M has its opposite endportion operatively engaged with the drum 11 so that as the member M isWOLUICl around the drum 11 upon requisite rotation of the shaft 8 thedesired pull will be imposedupon the clamp C to properly stretch thewoven fence fabric 1V or the like with which the clamping member C maybeengaged. By this means it will be perceived that after the proper ull orstrain has been imposed upon the f ric 1V the operator may readilysecure the fabric to the postP or the like as the coaction between theworm 9 and the gear 10 will'prevent retrograde movement of the fabric Wafter being stretched.

As herein disclosed the clamping member comprises an elongated fiatstrip or rigid member 29 having imposed thereupon a second member 30.The member 30 is coexthe bar 18 is pointed as at 19 and with the lengthof the member 29 and has its longitudinal margins provided with theflanges 31 extending toward the member 29. The members 29 and 30 areconnected for relative movement by the bolts 32 whereby the fabric WVmay be readily and conveniently clamped between the members 29 and 30.As herein disclosed the pulley 28 is rotatably supported by an arm 33extending laterally from the member 30 at a point substantially midwaythereof.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that astretcher constructed in accordance with our invention is particularlywell adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility withwhich it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious thatour invention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason wedo not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precisearrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout our invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

V e claim:

1. A wire stretcher comprising two elongated members arranged invertically spaced relation when in working position, the forwardportions of said members being in convergence, a block secured betweenthe forward ends of the members and provided with a transverselydisposed head, pulling means supported by and between the members adjacent the rear ends thereof,-a groimd engaging support adjustablyengaged with both of the members, the rear portion ofthe upper memberbeing provided with an open ing, and a rod provlded with a hook memberat one end insertible through an opening in the upper member, said rodserving as a lateral support, and having swinging movement relative tothe member.

A wire stretcher comprising a pair of elongated members arranged invertically spaced relation when in working positiomthe forwardextremities of said members being provided with anabutting member, adrum rotatably supported by and between the members adjacent the rearextremities thereof, a pair of bolts connecting the members at each sidethereof and adjacent the drum, a bearing supported between the bolts ofeach pair, a shaft supported by the bearingsand operatively' engagedwith the drum, and means for rotating the shaft.

3. A wire stretcher comprising a pair of elongated members in verticallyspaced relation when in working position, an abutting member secured toV the forward extremities of said member, a winding drum rotatablysupported by and between the rear end portions of the members, platessecured to said members adjacent the drum vand extensive in lengthtending beyond opposite sides of the members, bolts connecting theextended portions of the plates and arranged in pairs at opposide sidesof the members, bearing blocks mounted between the pairs of bolts, ashaft mounted in the bearing blocks and operatively connected with thedrum, and means for rotating the shaft.

4. A wire stretcher comprising a pair of elongated members arranged inspaced relation, the forward extremities of said members being providedwith an abutting memher, a drum rotatably supported by and between themembers adjacent the rear extremities thereof, a: pair of boltsconnecting the members at each side thereof and adjacent the drum, abearing supported be- NEWTON WHITE'SEL. FREDERICK WHITESEL.

WVitnesses to signature of Newton Whitesel:

Jon HERBEK, E. A. RoPP. Vitnesses to signature of Frederick Whitesel:

F. D. BROWN, Rosn BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ratents. Washington, 10."

